Citizens Advice Bureaux make a record of every enquiry brought to us. This adds up to a huge wealth of information about the problems people experience. We work proactively to prevent similar problems happening to others.

We use this evidence to highlight the effects that policies have on real people in the real world, and to suggest where improvements can be made to the policies and services of national and local government and businesses. We aim to stop problems at their source, using the direct experience of the communities that CABx serve.

Each bureau send information about the problems brought to them (but not about their clients) to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Evidence is collated to help social policy officers identify national trends. The CAB can then present evidence to policy makers by writing reports and submissions and participating in consultations to improve policies.

With local or regional issues, bureaux may act or join forces with other CABx and outside agencies, using their client evidence to lobby MPs, Assembly Members (AMs), councillors, local authorities and others, as well as presenting their findings in the media.

The CAB Service is respected for its impartiality and independent analysis, and is listened to at all levels of government. Councillors, MPs, AMs and Ministers all consult the CAB Service on a wide range of issues. This enables us to effectively campaign for social justice and get laws and polities changed for the better.

We have recently campaigned on issues as diverse as:

• Maternity and parental rights
• Support for asylum seekers
• Disability discrimination
• Charges for health care
• School uniform costs
• Improving financial literacy